Vol. 4(3), pp. 82-97, March 2016
DOI: 10.14662/IJPSD2016.021
Copy©right 2016
Author(s) retain the copyright of this article
ISSN: 2360-784X
http://www.academicresearchjournals.org/IJPSD/Index.html
International Journal of
Political Science and
Development
Full Length Research
Nexus between Causes, Dimensions, Adverse Effects
and Solutions of Corruption in Nigeria
Dr. Nasir Ahmad Sarkin Dori B.Sc., M.Sc., MPhil., PhD. ACNIM, MIDFPM, FCAI.
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Department of Political Science, Federal University Dutse P.M.B 7156 Dutse,
Jigawa State, Nigeria. E-mail: [email protected]
Accepted 16 April 2016
The major problem bedeviling Nigeria today is endemic corruption. This paper takes critical and
comprehensive look at a form of connection between the causes (root), dimensions, effects and
possible ways of combating corruption in Nigeria. The findings from the study revealed that corruption
had impeded the socio-cultural, economic and political development of Nigeria through abuse of power
and authority, illegal diversion of public funds, looting of public treasury, embezzlement, adulteration of
contracts, bribery, and money laundry. These, however, have perpetrated into poor execution of
government expenditure and development projects, budget deficit, excess borrowing, high rate of
poverty, mass unemployment, inequality, lawlessness, bad governance, sectors collapse and
immorality in the Nigerian society. Therefore, the conclusion derived from the findings as contained in
the recommendations includes: for Nigeria to tackle corruption, politically we needs effective
leadership and effective application rule of law. Economically, government must evolved and implement
sound and effective economic policies that would improve the economic conditions, standard of living
and quality of life and reduce the cost of essential services. Socio-culturally, government must evolved
effective method of inculcating value system and societal re-orientation through mass mobilization and
anti-corruption campaign for the entire members of Nigerian society.
Keywords: Nexus, Corruption, Political, Economic, Socio-Cultural, Causes, Dimensions, Effects, Solutions
Cite This Article As: Dori NAS (2016). Nexus between Causes, Dimensions, Adverse Effects and Solutions
of Corruption in Nigeria. Inter. J. Polit. Sci. Develop. 4(3): 82-97
INTRODUCTION
Free corrupt society is one of the necessary requirements
for rapid and sustainable economic growth and
development. And also is one of the requirements for
political, economic and socio-cultural development in any
nation. One of the reasons Nigerians voted President
Muhammadu Buhari into power was his promise to deal
with the corruption as ugly monster which crippled the
country’s political, economic and social development.
However, one of the political cardinals of his regime is
anti-corruption crusade and to combat corruption in
Nigeria.
In view of that it’s necessary to understand the root,
genesis, causes and dimensions of corruption in order to
curb corruption to minimal level. Corruption has political,
economic and socio-cultural genesis, dimensions and
effects. However, to tackle corruption in Nigeria we must
use both the combination of political, economic and
socio-cultural measures, failure to address any one of
Dr. Nasir Ahmad Sarkin Dori
these measures religiously. Nigeria is found to perpetuate
in high level of corruption. Corruption is the abuse of
public trust, funds and office for private, personnel gain or
for luxury life at expense of the majority citizen.
The series of military interventions, coup deter in Nigeria
must be attributed to the political, economic and sociocultural instability which was the result of persistent raise
in the level of corruption in Nigeria. Economically,
absence of corruption encourages foreign investment,
sufficient capital for development oriented projects,
expand production, improves income and standard of
living, reduces poverty, encourages budget surplus and
facilitate economic growth and development.
However, the World Bank has estimated that as
a result of pandemic corruption in Nigeria 80
percent of Nigeria’s energy revenues benefit only
1 percent of the population (Wikipedia, Economy
of Nigeria, p. 2, 2011)
The issues of corruption and anti corruption crusade have
been the major concern of all the regimes, be it military or
civilian in Nigeria. This is because corruption diverts
scarce resource meant for development and provision of
socio-economic infrastructures, thus creating extreme
poverty, inequality, unemployment, insecurity and
deteriorated socio-economic and political progress, thus
impeded development. In Nigeria corruption has been
rationalized and institutionalized, it has become like
cancer of the blood whereby members of the society
acknowledge it as bad, evil, and problem and as
necessary in terms for survival. It has become do or die
or order of the day in Nigeria whereby public resources
and funds are converted illegally into private or personal
properties leaving little or nothing for the collective well
being of our over 150 million Nigerians. The funds
allocated for their welfare services and socio-economic
amenities disappear into the air or group of person or
single person pocket. Globally, corruption does not
respect any political or economic system, is found in
democratic, military, capitalist, socialist, developed and
developing societies only the level or rate of corruption
varies. Corruption has become pandemic and epidemic
disease in Nigeria for its speed, spread and occurrences.
Corruption is absolutely illegal efforts by all form of
ramifications to secure public wealth, resources, money
and power through illegal means for personal gain at the
public expenses.
However, corruption has contributed immensely to the
vicious circles of poverty and miserable life to larger
segment of the Nigerian population. Therefore, Nigerian
governments at all level and especially the present
regime of Muhammad Buhari should not joke with any
possible measures aimed at alleviating or combating the
monster to the barest minimum level, since total
eradication is not possible. Corruption has become
83
persistent monster that has been eating deep into the
fabric of Nigerian economy and made most devastating
and adverse effects on Nigeria’s development.
The conceptualization of corruption is wide with
different perception, analysis and understanding. In spite
of that corruption entails or summarized as any form of
bribery, extortion, illegal diversion, nepotism, favoritism,
embezzlement, fraud, gratification, inflation of contracts,
over-invoicing, and abuse of office, looting of public funds
or wealth. On the other hand corruption obtains when an
official transfer a benefit to an individual who may or may
not be entitled to the benefit in exchange for an illegal
payment. (Oxford concise dictionary of politics 2003,
p124-125) By involving in corruption officials breaks a
legally binding constitution. It has been confirmed
universally, corruption is neither a property of a social
system or an institution or a trait of an individual’s
character but rather an illegal, selfishness and greed
exchange.
Therefore, the objectives of this study are:
1)
2)
3)
4)
To determine the nature and character of the
phenomenon of corruption
To examine the political, economic and sociocultural root, genesis, causes and dimensions of
corruption in Nigeria.
To analyze the adverse effects of corruption on
political,
economic
and
socio-cultural
development of Nigeria.
To proffer viable political, economic, sociocultural ways or measures of curbing or
combating the menace of corruption in Nigeria.
METHODOLOGY
The study used both primary and secondary source of
data. Primarily data were obtained through field work in
oral interview (specialized interview) with top
management staff of EFCC, ICPC, Judges at FCT
Federal High Court, Police and lecturers in two selected
universities, Federal University Dutse and University of
Abuja). Simple random sampling was made among these
respondents. In secondary source, library materials such
as documentary papers, journals, text books, seminar
papers, magazines and news papers were consulted.
Theoretical Framework
Concerning relevant of corruption, the social sciences
literatures and scholars provides the theoretical and
empirical significance relationship between corruption
and social structures backwardness (i.e. political
economic, social and cultural structures). Therefore, this
84
Inter. J. Polit. Sci. Develop.
paper examines and adopts work of system theory. This
is because of connection and inter-connection of political,
economic, socio-cultural causes, dimensions, effects and
solutions of corruption. System theory takes the social
system as the proper unit of analysis. It was popularly
introduced to sociology and politics by Talcott parsons
(The structure of social analysis 1937) and by David
Easton (The political system 1951).
The system theory views that the system or structure
exists as a whole and consists of different parts of
political, economic, social and cultural sub system that
are interrelated, interacted, interdependent and
interconnected. Political, economic, socio-cultural system
formed a social system. And within a country like Nigeria
these sub systems are interconnected at the same time
connected to the whole. Corruption does not exist or
function in a vacuum, it is through machineries of the
state (power, authority, political administrative structures)
that the act of corruption are been perpetuated. However,
when pervasive tendencies are condoned, standards are
comprised laws are break, order are disobeyed due
process are neglected, power are abuse, and check and
balance are shunned. Bribe, stealing, illegal diversion,
looting, embezzlement, fraud, nepotism and favoritism
would definitely be the order of the day, which translated
and affects all the subsystem of the social structure.
Corruption in political and administrative system affects
economic and socio-cultural system negatively.
Economically, the provision of adequate education,
socio-economic infrastructure, full employment, greater
income, high standard of living would invariably reduce
the rate of corruption. In Nigeria high rate of poverty,
inequality, unemployment and poor living standard
contributed greatly to the corrupt behavior. However,
socially, breakdown of socialization process, value
system, lack of contentment, greediness, selfishness,
breakdown of social norms and values also contributed
immensely to the high rate of corruption in Nigeria. This
shows the connection and inter-connection between
corruption and subsystems in a social structure. The
system theorists viewed corruption as a cancer that has
gradually eaten deep into the fabric of the entire structure
and conclusively attributed to be responsible for Nigeria’s
political, economic and socio-cultural backwardness.
LITERATURE REVIEW
The international monetary fund (IMF) and the World
Bank sees corruption as “The abuse of public office
through the instrumentality of private agents, who actively
offer bribes to circumvent public policies and processes
for competitive advantage and profit beyond bribery,
public office can also be abuse for personal benefit
through patronage and nepotism, for example, the theft of
state assets or the diversion of state revenue (Kari &
Ernest, 2013: 3).
Corruption is effort to secure wealth or power through
illegal means for private gain at public expense; or a
misuse of public power for private benefit (Lipset and
Lenze 1999: 112). Therefore, corruption is a deviance
behavior which reflect any form of abuse or misuse of
public office, power, duties, resources, funds wealth,
money, trust and properties for private personal,
selfishness benefit, profit, firmly and luxury life.
According to Oshoba (2014: 9) corruption or corrupt
behavior involves the violation of establish rules for
personal gain or profit. Furthermore, oxford advance
learner’s dictionary sees corruption as dishonest or illegal
behavior especially of people in authority.
According to President Muhammad Buhari at NTA
media chat on Wednesday 30, December 2015 asserted
that corruption is a situation where public funds were
diverted into personal pocket e.g. crude oil was lifted
illegally and the proceeds were put into personal
accounts instead of the federal government accounts.
However, the classical concept of corruption as a general
disease of the body politics was stated by ancient political
philosophers, Plato and Aristotle. Plato in his theory of
the corrupted political system referred democracy,
oligarchy and tyranny as corrupted regimes instead of
being guided by the law were serving the interest of
rulers. Both Plato and Aristotle regarded corruption as
dysfunctional. On the other hand in modern political
theory Machiavelli, Montesquieu and Rousseau have
come with their political thought on corruption for
Machiavelli, corruption was process by which the virtue of
the citizen was undermined and eventually destroyed.
While Montesquieu saw corruption as the dysfunctional
process by which a good political order is perverted into
evil one and a monarchy into despotism. According to
Rousseau political corruption is a consequence of the
struggle for power. He further asserted that man had
been corrupted by social and political life. It is not the
corruption of man which destroyed the political system
but the political system which corrupts and destroyed
man (Voskanyan, 2000: 10).
The Independent Corrupt Practice and other
related offence Commission ICPC Act 2000, and
the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC) Act 2004. The EFCC act empowers the
commission to investigate, prevent and
prosecute offender who engage in:- money
laundering, embezzlement, bribery, looting and
any form of corrupt practices, illegal arms or
contract deal, smuggling, human trafficking, and
child labour, illegal oil bunkering, illegal mining,
tax evasion, foreign exchange malpractices
including counterfeiting to currency, theft of
intellectual property and piracy, open market
abuse, dumping of toxic wastes and prohibited
goods (EFCC, Act 2004).
Dr. Nasir Ahmad Sarkin Dori
Conclusively, this paper classifies definition of corruption
into political, economic and socio-cultural perspectives.
dimensions.
1)
(1)
Political definition of corruption: corruption is
the systematic process which comprised of any forms of
abuse or misuse of public power, office, authority and
duties for personal interest, or is the violation of
established rules, laws, order, and political procedures for
personal gain. All forms of political, policy and authority
crimes.
(2)
Economic definition of corruption: Corruption
is the systematic process which comprised of any forms
securing or acquiring public or private wealth, resources,
funds, money and properties through illegal means for
private gain at public expense, or illegal diversion of
public funds and money into private accounts i.e. looting
of treasury, bribe, embezzlement, squandering of
government revenue, stealing of government money,
inflation of contracts, money laundry and stealing
government property.
(3)
Socio-cultural
definition
of
corruption:
Corruption is the systematic process which comprised of
any form of social behavior which deviates from normal
norms and value of the society from the formal duties or
public roles or institutionalized, improper behavior or
immorality that entered into cultural norms and values
system of society which has become norm and value.
Nigerians are now born, learn, believe, socialize, grow,
live and practice corruption. Corruption has become
cultural norms and value of behavior that are socialization
from generation to generation in Nigeria. Socio-cultural
perspective of corruption is all forms of immorality
associated with administrative crimes.
Features of Corruption
This paper identifies the following as features of
corruption.
1)
It is a deviance behavior or crime
2)
It involves two or more offending parties
3)
It is illegal, violation of law, misuse
4)
It involves abuse of public office, funds, wealth,
resources, money, power and authority.
5)
It involves illegal diversion for private gain in
public
6)
It attracts punishment
7)
It has negative effects on parties’ involved,
corrupt officials, government and society at large.
The Dimensions of Corruption in Nigeria
This paper classifies corruption into three dimensions
such as political, economic and socio-cultural
85
Political dimensions of corruption in Nigeria
These are the forms of corruption that found in any form
of political activity or struggle or in the highest places or
offices of political authority involving politicians,
administrators who implement policies and pass
legislation that benefit
them (The Encyclopedia
Americana, 1999) i.e. false declaration of assets. Political
corruption is sometimes seen as similar to corruption of
greed as it affects the manner in which decisions are
made, as it manipulates political institutions, office, rule of
procedures, and distorts the institutions of government.
(NORAD, Ch.4, 2000). This form of corruption involved
buying of electoral votes to win election, political thugs,
the use of Almajiri as a political weapon and instrument,
use of coercion or intimidation and even killings to get
elected into political positions or authority, political
assassination, kidnapping of political opponents,
influencing judicial decisions and governmental
appointments through a disguised payment, electoral and
census rigging, the use of power in a dishonest or illegal
way or administrative or judicial decisions, sale of
government appointments and contracts, reckless
abandonments and process, abuse of code of conduct,
false political promises, holding on to power against will
of people.
However, bureaucratic corporation occurs in the public
administrative structures or the implementation end of
polities. This corruption occurs in public service where
documents are delayed or manipulated depending on
how much you give. Therefore, political and bureaucratic
corruptions are unethical behavior which violates the
norms and values of the system of political and
administrative order and rules false documentation and
suppression of records etc.
2)
Economic
Nigeria.
dimensions
of
corruption
in
This dimension comprised of all forms of economic and
financial related crimes. It deals with fraudulent practices
in both public and private sectors which usually or most
of the time involved monetary gains or exchange such as
bribery scandals, fraud, money laundry, kidnapping for
monetary gains, avoiding the payment of import duties
and penalty, looting of funds or treasury, stealing
government money, kickbacks, pay-off, embezzlement,
extortion, gratification and all other forms of illegal
monetary or financial gains or exchange in public service
or private related government-structures. Inflation of
contracts, over-invoicing, payment for or supplies not
satisfactorily done or not done at all, abuse of tender
process, awarding contracts to self adulteration of
markets goods. All forms of illegal acquisition of public
86
Inter. J. Polit. Sci. Develop.
wealth, funds, property and money etc.
3)
Socio-cultural dimensions of corruption in
Nigeria.
Demanding and paying bribes and gratification have
become a norm or national culture, value system by
placing emphasis on illegal wealth accumulation. This
dimension of corruption comprised of nepotism,
favoritism, primordial, regionalism, ethnicity, or religion in
power and authority. Corruption has become a sociocultural behavior which deviates or violates public rules
against the exercise of certain types of public duties for
private and selfish gains. Using cultural ethnicity or
religion to abuse public office, power or authority,
accepting corruption as a culture or as a norm and value
has become the order of the day among the Nigerian
societies. It also imply highly biased culturally or
religiously
distribution of state resources, wealth,
revenue allocation, allocation of values, positions, offices,
contracts and funds to favor community, families,
relations, religious followers and ethnic groups.
Corruption had become completely institutionalized,
naturalized, socialized and entered the complex whole of
culture and value system and belief of Nigerian society,
pass from one generation to another.
The Causes of Corruption in Nigeria
This has to do with root, genesis and reasons of corrupt
behavior in Nigeria. We have political, economic and
socio-cultural reasons of corruption among Nigerians.
1)
Political genesis of corruption in Nigeria.
These are the political activity, process, issues, value and
belief that determine the level of and course corruption in
Nigeria. These are the political factors that exposed,
pushed or forced Nigerians to become vulnerable to
corruption. Many have argued that the rampant cases of
corruption in Nigeria are symptomatic of the crisis of
governance, misgoverned by unpatriotic and parasitic,
bad, un-nationalistic, greedy and selfishness leaders.
According to the UNDP (1998) in (Kari and Ernest,
2013) corruption arises when public officials have a wide
authority, little or no accountability and perverse
incentives or when their accountability responds to
informal rather than formal forms of regulations. Others
includes concentration of powers in the executive arm of
government, poor transparency and accountability
surrounding executive decisions, restricted access to
information, weak systems of oversight and enforcement,
excess spending on struggle for power, belief in power as
the only source of wealth, belief in political office as the
only means of compensation.
However, soft political controls system and high
tolerance for corruption activities of state. Political offices
and power are seem as the primarily means of gaining
access to wealth, rich and influence. People in Nigeria do
anything possible include killing, ritual, threat,
intimidation, assassination, blackmailing and violence to
get elected or acquire power, position and authority.
Corruption in Nigeria must be pandemic and order of the
day, because politics has become do or die affairs.
Politics and political activity have become big business in
Nigeria because anything spent to secure a political office
is regarded as investment and easiest means to make
money and become rich. Another genesis is the
weakness of governmental and legal enforcement
mechanism and agency. However, the institutions
established to enforce sanctions on corrupt officials are
too weak to carry out this function. These institutions are
EFCC, ICPC, police, judiciary and prison. These
institutions are highly politicized, and the lukewarm
attitude of those who are supposed to enforce the laws of
land judges, courts, and police officers could lead people
to engage in corrupt behavior because they behaved they
would free and go unpunished.
However, delay in investigation, trial, prosecution also
increase the rate of corruption and corrupt tendencies in
Nigeria. According to chairman EFCC Mustapha Ibrahim
Magu “EFCC investigates 1,889 cases and secures only
78 convictions in 2015. This shows the nature of
slowness and delay in prosecution and conviction of
corrupt officials in Nigeria by Judicial system. This makes
many Nigerians not to fear corruption and its punishment.
However, Lack of openness and transparency in public
service and ineffective political process. There was
absence of strong and effective anti-corruption tools such
as laws, punishment, and deterrence, and detention,
interrogation, capital punishment either by hanging or
injection to serve as deterrence to others. However,
another genesis of corruption in Nigeria was ineffective
political system and leadership, and lack of contentment
among our leaders, elite, public servants and other civilservants. Finally break down of law and lack of
application and practice of rule of law increases the rate
of corruption in Nigeria.
2)
Economic genesis of corruption in Nigeria.
Economic crises, economic backwardness and instability
have contributed greatly to high rate of corruption in
Nigeria. Corruption in Nigeria occurs as a result of
unequal distribution and sharing of resources, income
and wealth amongst the populace. However, there was
perpetuation and increasing wider gap between haves
and the have not’s, poor and rich in Nigeria. The haves
are able to afford and live in good life, education, health,
shelter, food, income, employment and standard of living
for them and their family and they are virtually left with
Dr. Nasir Ahmad Sarkin Dori
nothing then vicious circle of poverty, poor income,
deteriorated life, unemployment, diseases, illiteracy,
destitution, begging, humiliation and helplessness from
generation to generation. However, the first class people,
elites, ruling class and technocrats are able to acquire
good life not by hard work but because of they were
opportune to be in positions of authority and looted public
funds. Therefore, economically greater inequality in
distribution and sharing of wealth and resources played
vital role in increasing the rate of corruption in Nigeria.
Political office, power and authority are regarded as the
primary means of gaining access to wealth, rich and
quick money. Corruption is highly regarded as short cut
to wealth. There was little or no access to economic
opportunity structure and encouragement of individual
initiative. In addition in Nigeria there was little access to
education, employment, economic mobility and
advancement in life which of course culminated into high
rate and wide spread of corruption in Nigeria. Economic
prostration and difficulties always expose many Nigerians
to corrupt behavior, low level of development, financial
and entrepreneurial capabilities, also perpetrated the
level of corruption in Nigeria. These included high rate of
object of poverty, income inequality, unemployment, no
jobs for increasing youths, poor youth empowerment, and
lack of capital to be self reliance or to start business.
Socio-economic deterioration such as poor public
schools, roads, hospitals, water, electricity and inflation in
essential services also economically perpetuated
corruption in Nigeria. However, poor economic motivation
in public service increases the rate of bribery and
corruption. And the classical scholars studies on
corruption shows that relationship exist between
corruption and economic backwardness. It has become
fashion in Nigeria to loot public treasury, steal public
wealth and money, in order to sustain family in wealth
and richness and be free from poverty.
3) Socio-cultural genesis of corruption in Nigeria
Categorically, breakdown of societal cultural norms,
values, value system and social control had greatly
contributed to high rate and persistent of corrupt behavior
in Nigeria.
Robert K. Merton (1968) A Sociologist demonstrated
that relationship between culture and level of corruption.
He further asserted that corruption motivated behavior
responding to social pressures to violate the norms so as
to meet the set goals and objectives of a social family
and societal orientation. It has also been argued that
culture (norms, values, beliefs, attitude, and folkways)
influence the existence and perpetration of certain corrupt
practices. Most of the cultural values, norms and beliefs
prohibited theft, stealing, looting, distrust and abuse of
authority. Most of the traditional Nigerian communities
regarded them as abomination which usually lead to
87
punishment like rejection, capital punishment, fine or
execution. But unfortunately our traditional rulers,
religious priests, families and communities have
institutionalized and culturalised corruption. They
encouraged corruption by receiving gift from corrupt
leaders, sharing the looted or stolen money or wealth,
and even praying for God protection for the corrupt
leaders to escape punishment. Sometimes they pray for
God to change the wealth from evil to holy. This is how
our system of beliefs and norms encourage corruption
and corrupt behavior in our traditional societies. Kings,
Obas, Emirs, Egwai, Mallam, Sheik, and Pastors
encouraged and collect stolen money and wealth from
corrupt leaders.
Lack of total enforcement of societal norms, values and
beliefs had become the major root and genesis of the
prevalence corrupt behavior in our society. The causes of
corruption are myriad and they have political, economic
and social variables. Some evidence points to a link
between corruption and socio-cultural diversity, ethnolinguistic, fractionalization and the proportion of a
country’s population adhering to different religions and
traditions (Lipset & Lenz, 2000). Culture of a society
could make the citizens more prone to corrupt activities.
At wrong socialization process sometimes members of
society socialized by parents, peer groups, leaders and
elites to steal, loot or embezzle public funds. However,
members of society both ethnic groups and religious
groups tends to be proud, appreciate and praise
members that stole government money or looted treasury
or embezzlement public funds e.g. Bode George stole
government money jailed and when he is out, was
received by his people with praise, jubilation and
celebration. This will automatically encourage corruption
without regret among members of Nigerian society.
The leaders tend to steal collective public money and
resources shamelessly and used the communities that
they have impoverished to serve as a shield against
prosecution people in these various communities are
being tricked into behaving that those leaders are victims
of political victimization and marginalization. These
corrupt leaders often times use tribal and relation
sentiment to their favor, in causing disaffection and
communal crisis. When General Buhari came up with war
against indiscipline during his military regime, the same
religious leaders and traditional rulers pray for his
downfall. However, presently the same corrupt leaders
sponsored traditional rulers and religious priests to pray
against President Muhammad Buhari purposely because
of his Anti-corruption crusade.
The Adverse Effects or Negative Consequences of
Corruption on Political, Economic and Socio-Cultural
Development of Nigeria
The persistent and wide spread of corrupt practice
88
Inter. J. Polit. Sci. Develop.
among members of our society had ravaged, distorted,
impended and blockage the political, economic and
socio-cultural progress and development of Nigeria, thus
bane the Nigerian development, the negative effects of
corruption on a nation’s socio- economic and political
development are countless.
(1)
The adverse effects of corruption on political
development of Nigeria.
Politically, corruption destabilizes government and
political activity as it leads to political instability and crises
such as military intervention and political apathy and
depression in Nigeria. Corruption has become pandemic,
entrenched and translates into a breakdown of the rule of
law, lawlessness, disorders and in most cases a loss of
state legitimacy in Nigeria. The image of Nigerian political
system and government abroad is no long be recognized.
However, corruption leads to personalization of power
and authority as well as dysfunction of public sectors. It
impedes democratic process and development and the
application of constitution and the administrative justice,
public institutions and offices lose legitimacy as a result
of misuses of power for private interest. It destroys the
legitimacy of democratic government and in its extreme
forms even threatens civil liberty because civil liberty and
democracy lives on trust and corruption destroy trust. The
implementation of laws and rules as well as effort to
reform them are impeded by corrupt judges, lawyers,
prosecutors, police officers and other law enforcement
agencies. Corruption induces evil political struggle,
political behaviour and competition, erodes transparency
and political decision and policies. It distorts political
emancipation and sustaining political activity based on
regionalism, patronage and monetization. Rampant
corruption perpetrated electoral malpractices such as
rigging, buying and selling of voters’ card. Electoral
officers’ connived with party agents and security to
manipulate or falsify electoral results.
Corruption destroys the internal party democracy in
Nigeria and perpetrated political assassinations, thugs,
killings, rituals and manipulation of youths to achieve
Political goal. Corruption delays decision making and
policy
implementation,
adulterate
budget
and
development planning process and of course impeded
the process of development administration. The root and
genesis of misconduct and indiscipline in Nigerian public
service must be attributed to wide spread of corruption.
Conclusively, the inability of Nigeria’s past and present
leaders to consolidate on the gains of democracy has
been attributed to persistent corruption.
2)
The adverse effects of
economic development of Nigeria.
corruption
on
Corruption has a devastating consequence on economic
activities, structures, progress, performance and
development in Nigeria. Corruption has impeded and
retarded Nigerian economic growth and development.
According to British high commissioner to Nigeria, Mr.
Paul Arkwright Nigeria must tackle corruption to
experience possible economic prosperity and growth to
let its populace out of poverty. Nigeria has experienced
endemic corruption over the years which led to the high
level of socio-economic difficulties faced in the country. It
reduces
public
spending
on
socio-economic
infrastructures, social services, poverty oriented
programmes.
However, corrupt government officials shifted
government expenditures to areas in which they can
collect bribes and kick back or 10 percent easily and
quickly.
During Obasanjo regime over eighteen (18)
billion naira was invested into the power sector
to provide regular electricity supply for the
societal development and unfortunately nothing
came out of it, except high level of corruption.
Corruption diverts limited funds or resources, undermines
economic progress and impedes policy changes required
for economic growth and development, persistent and
deepen corruption in Nigeria led to high rate of poverty,
inequality, unemployment, destitution, diseases, illiteracy
and deteriorated living standard among the citizens. The
recurrent situation of corruption has negatively affected
the standard of living of the 80% of the population of
Nigeria because corruption undermines the government
ability and capacity to deliver range of basic needs and
social services such as health, education, roads, portable
water supply, electricity, housing and general welfare
services. Through corruption Nigeria loss huge revenue,
loss both internal and foreign investors, increase the cost
of goods and services leads to the production of substandard products and goods and services, and
contracts. The current capital shortage Nigeria is facing in
the economy 60% must be attributed to corruption.
The most disheartening, is the value of development
Assistance that flowed into the country for socioeconomic development was squandered by our political
leaders/elites. No doubt corrupt practices in Nigeria had
resulted in undermining the growth and stability of foreign
Direct Investment (FDI) impedes Nigeria’s ability to
attract oversea capital and investors. Undoubtedly,
Nigeria is one the world and largest producer and
exporter of crude oil, a country endowed with abundant
natural and human resources unfortunately still has more
than 60 percent of its population living below the poverty
line. Conclusively corruption affects productivity, output,
exports, balance of payment, foreign exchange, GDP and
foreign reserve negatively, thus economic backwardness.
Dr. Nasir Ahmad Sarkin Dori
3)
The adverse effects of corruption on Sociocultural development of Nigeria.
Corruption has also done great damage and harm to
social, cultural and beliefs systems of Nigerian society.
Corruption destroys and impeded moral foundation,
norms and values, beliefs and image of the Nigerian
societies. Corruption has done immeasurable damage to
the social fabric of our society, distorts the normative
system and sows the seeds of social dislocation and
socio-cultural crises of all forms. It also creates hate,
clashes, conflicts between ethnics and religious groups. It
destroys dignity, honesty, integrity, trust and moral of
individuals, groups, communities and societies of Nigeria.
Nigerian resources, wealth and power are shared to
kinfolk, families, friends, relatives and religions leaders.
Corruption diverted contracts, appoints and funds to
kinship members to favour them.
Corruptions made who looted public treasury to be
praised, valued, and worshiped and have reserved seats
in houses of worship, ceremony and social gathering.
However, unfortunately, corruption has vehemently
entered the life, blood and affairs of the Nigerian family
circle, peer groups, schools (primary, secondary, higher
institutions, university) worship places, bureaucratic
institutions, security out pit market places, village
meetings, women organizations and other form of social
gathering. Socially, corruption has destroyed the moral
and trusts of the public servant, honest and sincerity are
no more in any policy. Both society and public servants
exhibit bad attitude to work. Corruption crippled society
individual talent, integrity, dedication hard work,
innovation and self or individual initiating. It induces
frustration, social suicide and general apathy among the
public which result to weak civil society. It weakens the
state and its ability to promote social development and
social justice.
Corruption has dramatically increased the rate of
deviance behavior and has become a cancer that has
gradually spread and eaten into the socio-cultural fabric
of the society and attributed to be responsible for the
under development and backwardness of the Nigerian
society. It strives, mediocrity, indiscipline, crimes and
social disorder, however hard work and innovation are no
longer rewarded. Corruption has institutionalized
laziness, begging, dependency, destitution and insecurity
in Nigerian societies. According to late Professor Festus
Iyaya there was significant relationship between
corruption and high level of insecurity in Nigeria.
Corruption is the root of insecurity and conflicts. Because
money meant for employment generation, social
services, welfare improvement, poverty eradication and
development programme were diverted into private use.
These perpetrated youths into unemployment, poverty
and inequality. These increased the level of insecurity
and caused social instability in the society.
89
Some of the selected Cases of Corruption in Nigeria
The table 1-3 identify the names, groups and
organizations involved and nature of the cases of corrupt
practices and amount of money involved both in naira
and dollar as the case may be.
Sambo dasuki and groups on Arms/Weapons scandal
of $2.1 Billion, the Money Was Embezzled. The table 2 is
the evidence on how the money was shared.
According to federal government 55 people in Nigeria
stole a total of N1.34 trillion in seven years (2006 to
2013).
As revealed by federal government in Daily Trust
Newspaper of Tuesday, January 19, 2016, Vol. 39, No.
12. That fifteen former governors allegedly stole N1.46.84
billion, four former ministers stole N7 billion, twelve
former federal and state officers stole N14 billion, eight
people in the banking industry allegedly stole N524 billion
while eleven businessmen allegedly stole 653 billion
naira.
According to federal government using world bank rate
and cost, on third of the stolen funds could have provided
635.18 kilometers of road, built 36 ultra modern hospital,
that is one ultra modern hospital per state; built 183
schools; educated 3,974 children from primary to tertiary
level at 25.24 million per child; and built 20.062 units of 2
bedroom houses. This is the money that a few people,
just 55 in number allegedly stole within a period of just
seven years.
However, according to Mrs. Aisha Buhari wife of the
President in a media chat that seven (7) Nigerians stole
N3.3 trillion from Nigerian public treasury.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Geoffrey as a result of
President Buhari Anti corruption crusade, Nigeria has
recovered about one (1) Billion dollars stolen fund from
Switzerland Banks.
The foregoing tables show how our corrupt leaders
stole and share public funds, treasury and money
diverted into their personal gain. You can imagine how
much Nigeria is losing through corruption which is almost
equal to the entire budget. Sharing of Nigeria money is
just as easy as sharing of roasted chicken. How and
when Nigeria would achieve economic growth and
development with this high and persistent rate of looting.
In many years back Nigerians are talking of thousands
and millions naira were stole in corruption but now a days
we are talking of millions or billions of dollars not naira
were stolen. If care is not taking in future we will be
talking of trillions of dollars were stolen in Nigeria.
Denmark is the first and scored 92 in 2014 as world the
most freely corrupt country while Somalia is number 174
scored only 8 as the most corrupted nation in the world.
Unfortunately Nigeria is ranked as 136 and scored only
27 in global comparative. Table 4-6
90
Inter. J. Polit. Sci. Develop.
Table 1
1
2
Name of Persons
Groups of persons
Organizations
Maina
Mahmud Tukur and Maman Ali
3
Mr. Stephan Orensaye
4
Mr. John Yusuf
S/N
5
Stella Oduah
6
FG
7
Abba Moro
8
9
10
11
Malabu oil and gas
NNPC
Authur Eze
Mohammed Abacha
12
Faruk Lawan
13
Diezanni Allison Madueke
14
FG
15
Iyabo Bello Obasanjo
16
Igbinedion Governor of Edo
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
Dame Patient Jonathan
Bode George and Aminu Dabo
Governor Nyame
Governor Dareye of Plateau
Governor Boni Haruna’s aid
Governor Ibori
Orji Kalu Abia State
24
Alaimyesaghia
25
Nnamani former governor of Enugu
State indicated by EFCC
26
Governor Gbenga Daniel
27
Former V. President Atiku
28
29
30
Ibrahim Mantu and Zwingn
Governor Saminu Taraki
Obasanjo regime
31
Chief Ugochukwu Chairman NDDC
32
Alao Akala
Nature of the Corruption
Pension fund scam embezzlement
Fuel Subsidy Scam fraud
Found guilty over fraud on civil service
pension
Police pension fund fraud, breach of
trust, embezzlement
Bullet profit car purchase
NCAA Operational Vehicles
Private jet arm scandal with South Africa
Immigration recruitment scandal N1000
for each applicants
Oil Scandal
Crude Oil Theft Scandal
Defense Contracts Fraud
Stolen money in foreign bank
Evidence of bribery scandal collected & $
620,000
Stolen money
Bribe to Pastors and confessed by Pastor
Musa
Embezzlement of money as Christmas
bonus of ministry of health
Embezzlement Edo’s state fund and
money laundry
Money laundry fraud
Dirty contract in NPA
Stolen money from Taraba State
Fraud Charges
Corruption charges embezzlement
Corruption charges
Money laundry
Corruption charges pleads guilty and jail
for 2 years
Steal money from Enugu State treasury
Faces indictment for corruption and abuse
of office bought residence in London.
Corrupt charges and diversion from
Nigerian government to foreign account
Bribery scandal
Used for financed third term project
Power Scandal
Inflating Contract value and false
statement
Misappropriation of fund
Amount in Dollar
or Naira
N195 Billion
$6 Billion
N123 Billion
N32.8 billion
N255m
N643m
$15 million
NA
$1.1 billion
$500, million
N500million
N446 billion
$
3million
Collected
620,000
US $ 1.5m
and
$
N6 billion
N300m
N19 billion
$13million
N100millon
N2.4billion
N700m
N100m
N44billion
NA
NA
N6 billion
£1.75m
$100m and $145m
N54m
N30 billion
$18 billion
N10.2 billion
N11.5 billion
Dr. Nasir Ahmad Sarkin Dori
91
Table 1. Continuation
33
Former Speaker Dimaji Bankoli and
Usman Nafada
34
Ndudi Elemelu former Chairman
House Committee on power
35
Peter Odili of River State
36
James Ibori
37
38
39
Abubakar Kigo and Mrs. Uzoma
Dan Etete
Olisa Metuh
Former
D.G
NIMASA
Patrick
Akpobolokemi
Tompolo
Emeka Mba DG NBC
40
41
42
[
Dragged to court over 17 change alleged
misappropriation
N10 billion
Docked over fraud charge
In late 2006 during two terms diverted
money
-Diversion of public fund
- Abuse of office
- Money laundry
- Attempted to Bribery
Ribadu
N5.2billion
Embezzlement police pension fund
Oil Scandal
Arms Purchase
N33 billion
$1.1 billion
N400m
Stealing
N754.7m
Fraud/money laundry
Fraud
₦ 45.9 billion
N 15 billion
Over N100billion
-Bribery $15m
- Embezzle
N40 billion
- $266B
Source: field survey, 2016
Table 2.
S/N
NAME
1
Haliru Bello and Abba Son
2
Bello Mataualle
3
Peter Odili
4
Tanko Yakasai
5
Ahmadu Ali
6
Jim Nwobodo
7
Rashid Ladoja
8
Chief Toney Anenih
9
General Jaferu Isa
10
ALiyu Shinkafi
11
General Sarkin Yaki
12
Bode George
13
BAM Properties
14
Chief Olu Falae
15
Iyorcha Alyns Company
16
ACACIA Holding
17
Dalhatu Investment
18
Serving and former members HR
19
Haruna Abdullahi
Source: field survey, 2016
The Strategic Measures for
Combating Corruption in Nigeria.
alleviating
AMOUNT
N600 million
N300m
N100m
N65m
N100m
N500m
N100m
N100
N100
N100
N200
N109
N300
N100
N345m
N600m
NA
N600m
N100m
and
If Nigerian government is serious in controlling and
reducing the rate of corruption to a minimum or least level
the combination of both political, economic and sociocultural measures must be put together and use
religiously and effectively. The study believes that if
Nigerian government can utilize those measures
together, corruption will be reducing drastically or high
92
Inter. J. Polit. Sci. Develop.
Table 3. shows how 55 people stole N1.3 trillion in 7 years in Nigeria.
S/N
NAME
1
15 former governors
2
4 former ministers
3
12 former public servants both federal and state levels.
4
8 people in the Banking Industry
5
11 Businessmen
Source: Daily Trust, 2016
AMOUNT
N 146.84 billion
N 7 billion
N 14 billion
N 524 billion
N 653 billion
Table 4. Nigeria in World Ranking and Scoring of Corruption
Rank
Country
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
11
11
12
12
14
15
15
17
17
37
37
39
39
39
42
43
43
43
43
47
47
47
50
50
50
53
54
55
55
Denmark
New Zealand
Finland
Sweden
Norway
Switzerland
Singapore
Netherlands
Luxemburg
Canada
Australia
Germany
Iceland
United Kingdom
Belgium
Japan
Barbados
Hong Kong
Israel
Spain
Dominica
Lithuania
Slovenia
Cape Verde
Korea South
Latvia
Malta
Seychelles
Costa Rica
Hungry
Mauritius
Georgia
Malaysia
Samoa
Czech Republic
Slovakia
Bahrain
Jordan
2014
scored
92
91
89
87
86
86
84
83
82
81
80
79
79
78
76
76
74
74
60
60
58
58
58
57
55
55
55
55
54
54
54
52
52
52
51
50
49
49
Rank
Country
17
17
21
21
23
24
25
26
26
26
29
30
31
31
31
31
35
35
63
64
64
64
67
67
69
69
69
69
69
69
69
76
76
78
79
80
80
80
Ireland
USA
Chile
Uruguay
Austria
Bahamas
United Arab Emirate
Estonia
France
Qatar
Saint Vincent
Bhutan
Botswana
Cyprus
Portugal
Puerto Rice
Poland
Taiwan
Cuba
Oman
Macedonia
Turkey
Kuwait
South Africa
Brazil
Bulgaria
Greece
Italy
Romania
Senegal
Swaziland
Montenegro
Sao Tome & Principal
Serbia
Tunisia
Benin
Herzegovina Bosnia
El-Salvador
2014
score
76
76
74
74
74
74
73
69
69
69
67
65
63
63
63
63
61
61
46
45
45
45
44
44
43
43
43
43
43
43
43
42
42
41
40
39
39
39
Dr. Nasir Ahmad Sarkin Dori
93
Table 4. Continuation
55
55
55
55
61
61
85
85
85
85
94
94
94
94
94
94
100
100
103
103
103
103
103
107
107
107
110
110
110
110
110
136
136
142
142
142
145
145
145
145
145
150
150
152
152
154
156
156
Lesotho
Namibia
Rwanda
Saudi Arabia
Croatia
Ghana
Sri-Lanka
Thailand
Trinidad & Tobago
Zambia
Armenia
Colombia
Egypt
Gabon
Liberia
Panama
Algeria
China
Suriname
Bolivia
Mexico
Madera
Nigeria
Argentina
Djibouti
Indonesia
Albania
Ecuador
Ethiopia
Kosovo
Malawi
Nigeria
Russia
Comoros
Uganda
Ukraine
Bangladesh
Guinea
Kenya
Laos
Papa New Guinea
Central
Africa
Republic
Paraguay
Congo
Tajikistan
Chad
Cambodia
Myanmar
Source: field survey, 2016
49
49
49
49
48
48
38
38
38
38
37
37
37
37
37
37
36
36
36
35
35
35
35
34
34
34
33
33
33
33
33
27
27
26
26
26
26
25
25
25
25
24
80
85
85
85
85
85
115
115
115
115
119
119
119
119
119
124
126
126
126
126
126
126
126
126
133
133
133
136
136
136
136
156
159
159
161
161
161
161
161
166
166
166
Morocco
Burkina Faso
India
Jamaica
Peru
Philippines
Cote Devoir
Dominican
Guatemala
Mali
Belarus
Mozambique
Sierra Leone
Tanzania
Vietnam
Guyana
Mauritania
Azerbaijan
Gambia
Honduras
Kazakhstan
Nepal
Pakistan
Togo
Madagascar
Nicaragua
Timor Leboa
Cameroon
Iran
Kyrgyz slam
Lebanon
Zimbabwe
Burundi
Syria
Angola
Guinea Bissau
Haiti
Venezuela
Yemen
Eritrea
Libya
Uzbekistan
39
38
30
38
38
38
32
32
32
32
32
31
31
31
31
24
23
22
22
21
21
169
170
171
172
173
174
174
Turkmenistan
Iraq
Southern Sudan
Afghanistan
Sudan
Korea North
Somalia
17
16
15
12
11
8
8
30
30
29
29
29
29
29
29
29
28
28
28
27
27
27
27
21
20
20
19
19
19
19
19
18
18
18
94
Inter. J. Polit. Sci. Develop.
Table 5. Nigeria among African Countries (Continental Scoring & Ranking)
Rank Country
31
Botswana
42
Cape Verde
43
Seychelles
55
Lesotho
55
Namibia
55
Rwanda
61
Ghana
67
South Africa
69
Senegal
69
Swaziland
76
Sao Tome & Principle
79
Tunisia
80
Benin
80
Morocco
85
Burkina Faso
85
Jamaica
85
Zambia
94
Egypt
94
Gabon
94
Liberia
100
Algeria
103
Niger
110
Ethiopia
110
Malawi
115
Cote devour
115
Mali
Source: field survey, 2016
2014 scored
63
57
55
49
49
49
48
44
43
43
42
40
39
39
38
38
38
37
37
37
36
35
33
33
32
32
Rank
119
119
119
126
126
133
136
136
142
142
145
145
150
152
154
156
159
161
161
166
166
173
174
Country
Mozambique
Sierra Leone
Tanzania
Gambia
Togo
Madagascar
Cameroon
Nigeria
Comoros
Uganda
Guinea
Kenya
Central Africa Republic
Congo
Chad
Zimbabwe
Burundi
Angola
Guinea-Bissau
Eritrea
Libya
Sudan
Somalia
2014 score
31
31
31
29
29
28
27
27
26
26
25
25
24
23
22
21
20
19
19
18
18
11
8
Table 6. Nigeria among West African Countries (Sub-Regional Ranking and Scoring).
Rank
42
61
80
85
94
94
103
115
119
126
126
136
145
161
Source: field survey, 2016
Country
Cape Verde
Ghana
Benin
Burkina Faso
Gabon
Liberia
Niger
Cote devour
Sierra Leone
Gambia
Togo
Nigeria
Guinea
Guinea Bissau
level of corruption will be a history in Nigeria. Our
problem in Nigeria, we always focused on political
2014 scored
57
48
39
38
37
37
35
32
31
29
29
27
25
19
measures and neglected economic and socio-cultural
measures.
Dr. Nasir Ahmad Sarkin Dori
The political, economical and social cultural measures
are.
1)
Political measures for combating corruption
in Nigeria. The state should make political offices less
attractive (do or die) in order to prevent desperate
politicians with selfish motives from holding such offices.
The electoral system must be transparent to allow the
credible people to be elected into political offices. There
must be proper accountability in the system among all
political officers and administrative offices. Most
importantly, however, there must be a proper and
effective application of constitution, rule of law, entrench
a culture of justice, equity and fairness in government
and political system of Nigeria. Government must enforce
all electoral laws into practice and enforce internal party
democracy to avoid any element of corruption in political
process. Effective leadership, our leaders and elite must
imbibe the culture of discipline, patriotic nationalistic,
trustworthy, strong and dynamic for them to fight
corruption to the minimum level. Public and political
declaration of assets for all politicians and public officers
must be encouraged and enforced without fear or favour.
Institutionalization of transparency and openness in
government spending projects and award of contracts
must also be encouraged. Government must strengthen
and reform anti-corruption agencies such as EFCC,
Police, ICPC, Prison and Code of Conduct Bureau. As
the law enforcement agencies they must be allow to
discharge their duties effectively without fear or favour or
interference. Legislative and judicial measures against
corruption must be in place to ensure that anti corruption
laws are adequate and provide sufficient and effective
punishment for corrupt offenders. It is also necessary to
impose rigorous sanctions and punishment, effective
means of deterrence and prevention. The Nigerian
security agencies such as State Security Service,
Nigerian Intelligence Agency, and Bank Officials must be
incorporated effectively in anti-corruption crusade. This
will enable government to monitor and fast track any
illegal transactions and accounts of suspected corrupt
officers. This would go along way with encouraging
genuine whistle blowing and early detection.
Nigerian government must encourage and sustain
genuine cooperation and partnership with European
governments’ foreign banks and institutions such as CIA,
FBI and Anti Corruption international agencies to recover
stolen money deposited in foreign banks to also achieve
anti corrupt crusade. Government must implement
measures of curtailing excess use of money in politics
and the influence of money as a factor in political
process/struggle. Monetization of politics has become the
root of many evils not only corruption in Nigeria.
Therefore, monetization of Nigerian politics must be
controlled.
Furthermore, administrative measures must also taken
95
into consideration in reducing the chances of public
officer getting involved in corruption such as adequate
motivation, incentive, better salary and welfare. There
must be a complete adherence to ethical standards in
decision making and it should be the foundation of nation
policies. It is however, necessary to apply due process in
any operational policies and procedures in public
organizations and agencies. Inexperienced, unskilled,
unknowledgeable and unmotivated leaders must be
avoided in public services and politics as suggested by
philosopher Plato. There must be an effective monitoring,
evaluation and supervision of process and procedures in
public services.
Finally
government
must
encourage
judicial
independence, autonomy, reform, adequate welfare.
Government must encourage speedy judgment and trial
of corrupt officers, many cases of corruption take years to
be convicted. This delay create lack of fear for being
corrupt and perpetrates another form of corruption in
judicial system and many alterations in judgment, trials,
prosecution and witness. According to Ibrahim Magu
chairman EFCC. EFCC investigates 1,887 cases, only 78
convicted in 2015 you can see the level of delay in trial
and prosecution by our judicial system.
Corruption can also be control by application of check
and balance and absolute separation of power among the
three arms of government because absolute power
corrupt and led to dictatorship and tyranny.
2)
Economic measures for combating corruption
in Nigeria. Undoubtedly, economic instability and crises,
economic backwardness and imbalance induce corrupt
behavior in Nigeria. Therefore, effective, sound, dynamic
and vibrant economic policies and measures must be use
to reduce drastically the rate of corruption in Nigeria.
Government must make it mandatory to all revenue
generating, collecting ministries, departments and
Agencies (MDA’s) to remit their money and payment to
single federal account. A good example is President
Muhammadu Buhari Treasury Single Account (TSA). This
policy has reduced the rate of corruption, corrupt
practices and behaviours drastically in Nigeria. It also
enables the Nigerian government to recovered more than
three trillion (3 trillion) naira from it according President
Muhamadu Buhari. However, (BVN) Bank Verification
Number has also exposed many corrupt people and
excess money stole from Nigerian treasury.
No one should be above the law, no one would go free
by stealing public funds or money, and no one would
escape punishment. However, political immunity must be
removed when it comes to issue of economic and
financial crimes. If we are so serious in curbing corruption
in Nigeria, Judicial system needs financial autonomy,
good remuneration, and incentive, freedom of judgment
without fear or favour. Government must also enforce jail
term practice and strengthen the criminal laws into
96
Inter. J. Polit. Sci. Develop.
practice in order to curb corrupt practice in Nigeria.
Government must also enforce a strict financial regulation
and effective intelligences and surveillance of any huge
financial transaction to curb the rate of fraud and money
laundry. Government must formulate and implement any
economic policy that would narrow socio-economic
inequality in distribution of wealth income and social
services. Therefore, wider gap between haves and have
not’s or poor and rich must be narrow in term of acquiring
food, shelter, clothes, jobs, social amenities and standard
of living. These would go a long way in improving the
quality of life and standard of living of Nigerian citizens
thereby reducing corrupt tendency and behaviour among
them. However, if Nigerian government is serious about
curbing the level of corruption issues of object of poverty,
mass unemployment and inequality must be seriously
and effectively address. Object of poverty, social
insecurity and wider inequality exposed many Nigerians
to corrupt behaviour.
Government must also provide adequate,
effective and sustain socio-economic amenities
such as hospitals, portable water, schools,
electricity and roads to improve the quality of life
of the Nigeria citizen.
Marxist political economy asserted that it is not people
consciousness that determine their well being but the
way the society organizes the production, distribution and
exchange of goods and services that determines their
material conditions. Therefore, government must make
effective effort to improve economic activities in order to
achieve economic stability and reduce drastically the rate
of corruption in Nigeria. Analysts tend to believed that
developed countries have less or zero level of corruption
than the developing nations. It is also necessary to keep
inflation low. If inflation is high and persistent corruption
too will be high and persistent. Persistent rise in prices of
goods and services led to high cost of life and income will
be insufficient to cater for basic needs, difficult to pay
children school fees, to pay rent, to take care of domestic
household needs. Inflation forced public servants,
business men and politicians into corruption. Therefore, it
is necessary to address economic challenges in order to
improve the standard of living of Nigerian citizen. These
would invariably assist in reducing the level of corruption
in Nigeria.
3)
Socio-Cultural
Corruption in Nigeria.
Measures
for
Combating
This is no doubt that socio-cultural values, value system,
religions have role to play in combating corruption in
Nigeria. Failure to address them would perpetrate
corruption in Nigeria.
Sociologically society, family, religion, community,
media and peer group plays significant role in good
behaviour, social control, socialization process and value
reorientation, good moral, uprightness, upbringing,
contentment and trust. Government must encourage all
avenue of societal reorientation to a good value system,
a value system re-orientation that would de-emphasize
the use of money or wealth for recognition, relevance,
political appointment and contest and traditional titles.
Government must embark and encourage National
orientation programmes and anti-corruption crusade to
increase social awareness on the economic, social, legal
and cultural implications of corrupt behaviour in our
society. Our members of society must make efforts to
eradicate the behaviour of zero-sum game, the losers
lose all, the winner wins all or winner takes all. This
makes struggle for power, authority or promotion in
service as do or die affairs or life and death. Both
government and members of societies from the grass
root must encourage and institutionalized reward and
sanction for disconformities or improper behaviour. All
Nigerian societies, religious institutions included, must
come together to inculcate self disciplined, self controlled,
integrity, honesty, respect, trust and obedience into the
mind, trait, attitude and personality of members of
Nigerian societies. It is an obligatory duty for parents,
community leaders and religious priests to train members
of society to be law abiding citizens to conform to norms
and value of society to grow up with good behaviour. This
will reflect a good behavior and sincerity in government or
any political process among Nigerian citizens.
However, civil society groups, social groups must also
be mobilize and sensitize through campaign and
increased public awareness by disseminating the
behaviour expected from government in general and
public offices in order to improve accountability, good
behaviour, trust and transparency. These would reduce
drastically the rate of corruption, indiscipline and
misconduct in public service. A cultural revolution must
be carried out to restore our value system and system of
beliefs in our society. This must start from home and
parents and all hands must be on deck to restore these
values and norms, because it is the womb where
corruption, evils and improper behaviours were
conceived and nurtured. Charity begins at home, (good
parents lead to good children, and good children lead to
good future generation and society)
CONCLUSION
The paper centered on a form of connection between
causes, dimensions, adverse effects and solutions of
corruption in Nigeria. The paper has discovered that
corruption has political, economic and socio-cultural
definitions, causes, genesis, dimensions and negative
effects. The paper has also discovered that corruption
Dr. Nasir Ahmad Sarkin Dori
has largely retarded and impeded Nigerian political,
economic and social development. If Nigerian
government is serious about fighting corruption, the
combination of political, economic and socio-cultural
measures must put together and address collectively in
order to make effective impact on reducing corruption to
the minimal level in Nigeria. With reference to that the
paper provides political, economic and socio-cultural
measures in alleviating and controlling the level of
corruption in Nigeria.
Politically, government must encourage the application
of rule of law, practice of constitution, effective leadership
and effective law enforcement agencies and judicial
reform and independence.
Economically, government must improve economic
conditions, quality of life, standard of living, social
amenities and services of the citizens. Socio-culturally,
government must encourage and promote grass root reorientation of societal norms and values, value and belief
system and effective socio-cultural awareness among the
citizens through the use of family, peer group, media,
religions and schools.
Finally, no country, be it developed or developing in the
global world that can claim to be free from corruption,
corruption is inevitable in human life or activity. What
varies is level or rate of corruption from one society to
another. And what can be done successfully is to curb to
minimal or lowest level to allow for meaningful
development in Nigeria.
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